May 14, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Mother's Day.

I have become a bit of a freeloader. Easter dinner found me at the home of Linda Creath, the Mother of Christina, my daughter in law. And I spent Mother's Day there too. I enjoyed the food and the company. Our happy group consisted of Linda, Christina, Kate, Mary Frances, Molly and me. I overheard a funny conversation while sitting on a bench waiting for my Lyft. I had attended church at The Salvation Army and a group of ladies were waiting to go out for lunch together, along with four retired officers. The group go out for Sunday lunch together each week, using a Salvation Army van so they could all go together. Evidently, they visit different restaurants but last Sunday, on Mother's Day, they were gong to Wendy's because "no one would take their Mother to Wendy's for a special dinner," one said. Brilliant idea. My day was lovely. Brad, a friend of David and Andrew from school called to chat. We talked for 45 minutes, catching up on everything under the sun. Son David called to wish me Happy Mother's Day. And we talked too. Nothing pleases me more than talking to David on the phone. And I loved chattering away with Brad too. I enjoy talking on the phone. I know telephone talk is out of fashion. People text rather than talk. But I love friends to phone me. It pleases me to hear the voice. My Mother's Day was pleasant. My Father did not approve of the day. "Mothers should be honored every day, not just once a year." said Norman Buckley. But on Sunday we honored Mothers present and past. And we were grateful for our Mothers and Grandmothers and remembered them in our prayers.

May 13, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Mondays.

Mondays are an open day for me. No one comes to work here at home and I have no fixed appointments. My friend Alice Anne suggested to me that from now on, what happens to me must be manufactured by me. "Nothing will occur without your decisions," said Alice Anne. Ken was a person with hundreds of ideas so often he would think of what we wanted us to do and I would put the plan into action. Now I must do both. I find something to do on a Monday. Last week I invited Greta Barbour to have lunch with me today at Amerigo, her favorite restaurant. I took a Lyft and met her there. When I use Lyft, I never know if the driver will arrive in 6 minutes or 15 so I must assume for 15 so as not to be late. I do not like to be late when I am the hostess. I am usually early so by now have memorized the menu. The luncheon date breaks up my long day when I am alone. Greta Barbour is a good friend and we had a lively conversation. And we ate good food. Greta Barbour has a strong willed 15 year old daughter, who I like very much. On Saturday, the daughter had a piano competition at 9:00. At breakfast she announced that she would not go. After a talk with her father she decidied to go and play, and she did. And she did well. She is playing in another competition this weekend but this one will be fine. Her pieces are harder and she likes them. When all was said and done, she did not like the piece she was playing because it was too easy for her. So Greta Barbour and I enjoyed discussing the joys and perils of living with strong willed children. And Greta Barbour brought me home. After my short nap, I went walking in the neighborhood. That ended my Monday. My evenings are all the same and work well for me. I am still wearing my evening gown. Today my Monday was excellent.

May 12, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. My Meals.

Often I would ask my Mother what she had eaten that evening for dinner. I suspected that she was not eating properly. My Mother was thin and worked full time. And she lived by herself. Her response was not encouraging. "I ate a fried egg sandwich," she would say. She often complained that cooking for one was not fun so she mostly did not cook much. Even though I now live by myself, I eat well. My system works perfectly so I eat healthy nourishing food. Dreisys, my Cuban cook, prepares my meals at her own home. Saturday morning she brings over the food in containers still warm. After a bit, I put the containers in the fridge. Last week is she brought the following: 1. White rice, cooked and flavored. 2. Beef cut into small bite sized pieces with a small amount of sauce. The meat was very center and succulent. 3. Fish in a light sauce, nicely flavored. 4. Green beans and squash cooked together and flavored nicely. 5. Lentil soup made with chunks of beef. I ate on that food all week and put a container of the soup into the freezer for when I return. My Mother should have had a cook like mine. I eat well every day and enjoy every bite. My meals are excellent thanks to my Cuban cook.

May 11, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Refrigerators.

In the garage in Nova Scotia is a refrigerator that is almost 40 years old. It works like a charm even though I know it is inefficient. In the kitchen is a newer fridge and has already needed to be repaired once due to leaking water. It is not new, perhaps 18 years old. On Thursday, I received an e mail saying that the kitchen fridge was not cooling and water was all over the floor. Everything in the freezer had melted and mold had formed in the interior. It was working fine last week, but now it is not working at all. I picked up the e mail at 2:00. The modern world is wonderful. I decided to replace both refrigerators. In years past, Sears would have been the company to call but they do longer have a presence in Liverpool. A company McPhersons has taken over the old Sears store and they sell appliances so I called them. They had one counter deep fridge so I bought it. Unfortunately it was stainless and a top of the line Fridgedaire so expensive. And I bought a simple Whirlpool fridge for the garage. Now the garage fridge will not leak. By 3:00, both appliances had been purchased and paid for. I am set for the summer. Now the company will need to contact Mary and Walt for access to haul away both old fridges and install the new ones. This is a wonderful world.

May 10, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Graduation Day.

Our Kate graduated this afternoon from Mississippi College. I was beaming with pride as she walked across the stage. And she graduated Cum Laud. She now has a Batchelor of Science degree in Nursing. Next Kate will write the RN boards to become a Registered Nurse. She has already accepted a position at the University of Mississippi Hospital, working on the Cardiology floor. Kate was ready to be finished with nursing school. She has been attentive and diligent. Now she is pleased to be finished. The College cleverly graduated the students in small groups so today was just for the nursing school. The decision was a blessing for parents and friends because the graduation was finished on 75 minutes. And the speeches were blessedly short. So the whole graduation was done efficiently. Kashina came to the graduation so she drove me. We arrived just ten minutes prior to the celebration and were able to sit on comfortable chair in perfect sight of the speakers. And I had a perfect view of Kate as she sat with her fellow student in their chairs on the floor of the coliseum. The original plan was for the graduation to be held outdoors but the weather forecast was for rain so on Wednesday the decision was made to move the ceremony indoors, which was a great. blessing for me. Kashina and I wisely left as the last hymn was sung to avoid the crush of people. Kate asked to dine on Japanese food to celebrate. And she asked to eat at home. We celebrated in style, toasting Kate with champagne. Linda provided the dinner feast and picked up the food while I just enjoyed the evening. I had a wonderful time talking to the family and dining on good food. Peter flew in for the graduation but will go home tomorrow to attend his daughters recital. Now that Ken is not here to answer or medications questions, Kate will be the medical expert of the family. We are all delighted with her accomplishments and I give hearty congratulations to our dear Kate.

May 9, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. Another Storm.

The forecast was for a storm this morning. Friend Linda called me to tell me that she was staying home from BSF because the storm was beginning to kick up in her neighborhood. Being a Canadian, I decided to call for my Lyft. By the time he arrived 6 minutes later the rain was pelting down. The poor driver was forced to drive very slowly in order to see anything. Then the tornado sirens went off, coming through the radio and his cell phone. I began to think this decision to go out was not smart. The driver took me right to the portico of the church but the rain was falling so hard and the wind brought the rain sideways, I got wet even though I was undercover. I was wearing a rain coat too. A Man helped me into the church and took me down the hall on the first floor. As the tornado siren was still on, everyone had been taken to an interior room, the safest room in the building. Very soon the all clear was sounded and we went upstairs. It rained so hard you could not hear across the room. Then the signal was set for flash floods. But as we were on the second floor we stayed in our place. For over an hour the rain fell hard, just pelting on the roof and windows. But by the time we were ready to leave, it was merely spitting. Charlene drove me home in her SUV, which was a good thing because we drove through high spots on the roads. On both sides of Rice Road adjacent to the Reservoir the ground had several feet of sitting water. I got home with no trouble but I was happy to be home safe and sound. My decision to call Lyft was probably not the smartest decision of my life. It was exciting driving to BSF and the driver was not nervous. He just slowed down. These storms in Mississippi are interesting but most Mississippians just stay home. But not me. The show must go on.

May 8, 2019. Madison, Mississippi. My Day.

This evening is going to end with a Big Bang. The rain and wind have both started up. A tornado watch is in place. A big thunder storm is coming. Up until now, my day was quiet. But now it will be busy and noisy. Yesterday I had an ultra sound test of my right carrotted artery. My left is blocked so the Cardiologist wants to be sure the right stays open. When we first moved here he wanted the test every 6 months. I convinced him that every year should be OK and perhaps every 2 years. He has agreed. If there is no change , he agrees that every 2 years is OK. So in 2021 I must have another test. But not before. Nifty. Today I did what I am not supposed to do when I live alone. I stayed home all day. by myself. And I did not leave the house, even to get the mail. I am still in my nightshirt. Horrors. But I got a lot done. I am beginning to organize for the summer. And I sorted the pile of mail needing attention. The older I get the more time I need to get ready for a trip. So I plan ahead. I do not know why but the day before I leave for a journey my brain stops working. So I have set my case on the dining table and already have put in the Canadian money. So my day was valuable. And I read all morning. Now I want to end this wee web log before the Big Bang, when I might not have power. First I must get a flashlight. This storm sounds big. But my day was pleasant and productive. Hurrah for me.